DHS said the shooting occurred while ICE officers were conducting enforcement activity in the city. The woman who was killed was a U.S. citizen, Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez told ABC News, describing her as an observer who was "watching out for our immigrant neighbors.”

A DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, said the woman was allegedly attempting to run over ICE officers with her vehicle when an agent fired what the department described as "defensive shots.” McLaughlin referred to the woman as part of a group of "rioters” and did not identify either the woman who was killed or the officer involved.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the incident amounted to an "act of domestic terrorism,” citing the department’s account of events. Speaking at a press briefing in Texas, Noem said ICE officers became stuck in snow during adverse weather conditions and were attempting to free their vehicle when the woman allegedly attacked them and tried to ram officers with her car.

Local officials disputed the federal presence in the city. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he was aware of the shooting and called on ICE to leave Minneapolis "immediately.”

"The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city,” Frey said in a statement posted on social media. "We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said state officials were working to gather more information about the incident. "We will share information as we learn more,” Walz said in a post on X, urging residents to remain calm.

The City of Minneapolis said it was aware of a shooting involving a federal agent near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue and asked the public to avoid the area while authorities confirmed details. City officials said the federal enforcement activity was contributing to unrest and public safety concerns.

Witnesses reported a heavy law enforcement presence at the scene. Protesters later gathered nearby, and some were seen being pepper-sprayed by law enforcement officers.

The shooting occurred amid a large-scale deployment of ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in the Twin Cities, according to multiple sources familiar with the plans. Sources said up to 2,000 federal agents could be deployed to the Minneapolis area, including approximately 600 HSI agents and 1,400 ICE agents, though officials cautioned the numbers could change.

The increased enforcement activity follows recent scrutiny by the Trump administration over alleged fraud involving Somali-run childcare centers in Minnesota. Secretary Noem was in Minneapolis on Tuesday as part of ongoing immigration enforcement operations.

Authorities said investigations into the shooting are ongoing.